History Main / StoryBranching

[[folder:Hack and Slash]]
* ''Videogame/{{Drakengard}}'' has a unique way of handling the branching paths. Each time you unlock an ending, you unlock an alternative version of some mission, which leads to divergent path from that moment that ends with another, radically different (and usually [[FromBadToWorse worse]]) ending. Usually, you have to fulfill a secondary condition too (such as beating a boss under certain time limit) to go the alternative route once it is unlocked. The final branching is unlocked by HundredPercentCompletion.
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* ''Videogame/{{Drakengard}}'' has [[PrecisionFStrike fucking]] [[LetsPlay/TheDarkId weird]] thing of handling the branching paths. Each time you unlock an ending, you unlock an alternative version of some mission, which leads to divergent path from that moment that ends with another, radically different (and usually [[FromBadToWorse worse]]) ending. Usually, you have to fulfill a secondary condition too (such as beating a boss under certain time limit) to go the alternative route once it is unlocked. The final branching is unlocked by HundredPercentCompletion.

Story Branching occurs when the players' choices determine which levels, objectives, and other choices they will face later in the game and which will be [[PermanentlyMissableContent lost for good]] (at least, [[ReplayValue in the current playthrough]]). This makes them distinct from optional {{Side Quest}}s, which do not so much drive the central plot forwards as detract you sideways (though particularly long side-quests can feature story branching of their own); and from {{Plot Coupon}}s, which you can often collect in any order -- but the overall plot only progresses once you have ''all'' of them. A chart of the various branched levels and objectives is commonly referred to as a Campaign Tree. For a more in-depth look, refer to '''Analysis.StoryBranching'''.

Story Branching occurs when the players' choices determine which levels, objectives, and other choices they will face later in the game and which will be [[PermanentlyMissableContent lost for good]] (at least, [[ReplayValue in the current playthrough]]). This makes them distinct from optional {{Side Quest}}s, which do not so much drive the central plot forwards as detract you sideways (though particularly long side-quests can feature story branching of their own); and from {{Plot Coupon}}s, which you can often collect in any order--but the overall plot only progresses once you have ''all'' of them. A chart of the various branched levels and objectives is commonly referred to as a Campaign Tree. For a more in-depth look, refer to '''Analysis.StoryBranching'''.

** ''VideoGame/AceCombat6FiresOfLiberation'' features a subtle branching not unlike in ''Zero'', except that you only have one linear sequence of (very large) levels--but most of them contain up to seven concurrent and largely independent objectives ("operations"). Since completing half of the operations automatically ends the mission, you effectively miss out on all others--but unlike in ''Zero'', you can dynamically switch between operations mid-mission.

* Story branches are most common in {{Visual Novel}}s, where they are known as "routes". Story branching is usually the main gameplay mechanic, and for some, the only kind of gameplay there is to them. As such, visual novels tend to put a greater emphasis on story branching, with choices having a greater impact on the narratives than in other genres. See VisualNovel for examples--the majority of them feature story branching of some kind or another.

* ''Videogame/NierAutomata'' has an interesting take on this, to say the least. The path A is the standard gameplay. The path B is the exact same thing, except you play for the character that served as a sidekick for the path A, which allows you to learn some new and important information. Once you finish both, you get to path C, which is actually continuation of paths A and B, and diverges again at the very end.

* ''Videogame/{{Drakengard}}'' has [[PrecisionFStrike fucking]] weird thing of handling a branching paths. Each time you unlock an ending, you unlock an alternative version of some mission, which leads to divergent path from that moment that ends with another, radically different (and usually [[FromBadToWorse worse]]) ending. Usually, you have to fulfill a secondary condition too (such as beating a boss under certain time limit) to go the alternative route once it is unlocked. The final branching is unlocked by HundredPercentCompletion.

* Not just ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'' but a number of ''ShinMegamiTensei'' games have branching paths where you choose between Law, Chaos, or Neutral allegiance.

The amount of Story Branching determines the degree of ''plot'' (non-)linearity. See SlidingScaleOfLinearityVsOpenness for the possible degrees of ''exploration'' (non-)linearity, and CombatDiplomacyStealth for a way to introduce ''gameplay'' non-linearity. See also StoryToGameplayRatio.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shadow_the_hedgehog_path_1.jpg]]

[[quoteright:322:[[VisualNovel/YuNo https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yu_no_timeline_resize.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:322:[[ExaggeratedTrope A convoluted example]] from ''VisualNovel/YuNo'', with an interactive in-game map of the current situation. You're the red ball; time goes (approximately) from left to right.]]

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps2'': Used several times throughout the campaign, with results of the decisions sometimes not being felt until the very end of the game. Major choices that affect the ending are [[spoiler:finding out about the CIA mole, saving / failing to save Karma, shooting Briggs in the knee or head, shooting Harper or sparing him, shooting Alex Mason in the head or the legs]], completing all Strike Force missions and [[spoiler:killing or sparing Menendez]]. Less important decisions include Harper's face being scarred and [[spoiler:[=DeFalco's=] fate]].

[[caption-width-right:322:[[ExaggeratedTrope A convoluted example]] with an interactive in-game map of the current situation. You're the red ball; time goes (approximately) from left to right.]]

* ''VideoGame/StardewValley has a single major branching point. If at any point you sign up for a [[MegaCorp JojaCorp]] membership, the community center will turn into a warehouse and you'll be able to rebuild the town by spending gold on the [=JojaCorp=] Community Development Program instead of completing bundles.

* ''VideoGame/ChromaSquad'' features two different branches. The first branch, determined in Season 1, determines the kinds of monsters you contend with in Season 2, depending on whether you pay royalties to your old director, hire him, or take him to court. The second one at the end of Season 4 has a larger impact, [[spoiler:determining whether you recruit a SixthRanger, your team's Leader becomes a ''Franchise/KamenRider'' expy, or your team receives aid from a MetalHeroes expy.]]

* ''VideoGame/ChromaSquad'' features two different branches. The first branch, determined in Season 1, determines the kinds of monsters you contend with in Season 2, depending on whether you pay royalties to your old director, hire him, or take him to court. The second one at the end of Season 4 has a larger impact, [[spoiler:determining whether you recruit a SixthRanger, your team's Leader becomes a KamenRider expy, or your team receives aid from a MetalHeroes expy.]]

* Downplayed in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky Second Chapter. On your trips through Zeiss, Bose, and Grancel, you can pick either Schera or Agate. The dialogue mostly remains the same, but there are some additional conversations. This is taken further in the last chapter of the game. When you fight [[spoiler:the Enforcers]], you can choose an appropriate rival in their fights. This leads to extra scenes between them. In some cases, it's the last bit of CharacterDevelopment they get in the game.

* The Personal Story of ''VideoGame/GuildWars2'' inverts the typical storyline, with many beginnings but a single ending. To see every mission involved would require thirty characters due to the different combinations of race and personal history.
** Only the ''player's'' personal story is limited in this manner; all the possible plots in the Personal Story chain are considered to have occurred and run to completion. Characters and events from unplayed missions will appear in the player's story later on.

* ''VisualNovel/TheLetter'' notably has an in-game Branching Tree menu dedicated to showing every story branch. Each of the game's seven chapters has its own tree diagram, and the trees of the last two chapters are '''very''' large.